Beyond Spandex: Chic Styles for Cyclists Take Off

When apparel maker Betabrand created a pair of khaki pants whose back-pocket linings and hems could be exposed to reveal reflective fabric, it expected the pants to be a short-term novelty item.

But the $90 "Bike to Work" pants took off among two-wheeled commuters seeking clothes that marry fashion and function. "They're one of our most popular products," says Chris Lindland, the 38-year-old founder of the San Francisco company, which now has a women's version of the pants.